Who Is Babblejit Kaur? Indian-Origin Woman Detained During Green Card Appointment In California
Babblejit “Bubbly” Kaur, a 60-year-old Indian-origin woman and longtime community member in Long Beach, California, was detained by federal immigration agents.
by Zee Media Bureau · Zee NewsBabblejit “Bubbly” Kaur, a 60-year-old Indian-origin woman and longtime community member in Long Beach, California, was detained by federal immigration agents on December 1 while attending an appointment related to her pending green card application. The incident has left her family shocked and distressed, according to Long Beach Watchdog.
According to her daughter, Joti Kaur, Bubbly was detained during a biometric scan appointment, a routine process that usually involves fingerprinting and taking photographs and lasts only a few minutes.
Joti said her mother sensed something was wrong that day. After arriving at the office, the staff appeared unusual. Soon after, two vehicles arrived and several federal agents entered the building. They went into a back room, and Bubbly was later called into the same room.
There, agents informed her that she was being arrested. Despite having no criminal record, Bubbly was taken into custody. She asked to speak with her attorney and was able to make an eight-minute call, but she was still detained.
Family’s Emotional Struggle
According to Long Beach Watchdog, Joti Kaur, 34, described the past week as extremely difficult, saying they are doing everything possible to secure her mother’s release.
The family has been able to speak with and visit Bubbly at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center near Victorville, California. Bubbly has shared details of her detention, including her time at the facility, which was formerly a prison.
“This has been a nightmare for us,” Joti said, adding that the family believes her detention is unfair and deeply upsetting.
Longstanding Ties to Community
The Kaur family moved to the United States in 1994. They first lived in Laguna Beach before relocating to Long Beach due to work. Over the years, Bubbly and her husband, Singh, became well-known figures in the local community.
For more than two decades, the couple ran Natraj Cuisine of India and Nepal on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore. The restaurant was considered a beloved local business and a gathering place for residents.
Work and Legal Background
Bubbly has an approved immigration petition filed by her husband, who holds a green card, and her older daughter, a U.S. citizen. Her son and elder daughter are also U.S. citizens, while Joti has legal status after years under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
After stepping away from the restaurant shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, Bubbly worked at a Rite Aid store in Belmont Shore for 25 years until it closed earlier this year. She was recently preparing to return to work at a new Indian restaurant set to open in downtown Long Beach.
Her family continues to seek clarity and relief as they await further developments in her case.